The former captain of Boston College’s baseball team had a shot at a career in the big leagues. But two years ago, after noticing that a fairly common injury he sustained in game wasn’t healing, he learned he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease perhaps better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease that eventually leads to death.

Frates’ career, his dream, his livelihood — they all ended, and he was faced with the fact that his life as he then knew it would quickly take a drastic turn. At 29, he is now unable to walk, move his arms, speak and sometimes even breathe.

So, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for ALS research, the Ice Bucket Challenge was born, asking participants to either accept the challenge and dump a bucket of ice water on their heads within 24 hours of being challenged and donate a small amount to someone’s ALS charity or the ALS Association (the original asking donation was $10 to the ALS Association), or refuse the challenge and donate a bigger sum (originally $100 to the Association).